The demographics and transportation infrastructure of the area demonstrate that Rogers Park is brimming with commercial, retail, and development opportunities.  The area is seeing an influx of new residents with increasing disposable income that’s giving rise to a growing number and variety of retail establishments.  Rogers Park has four CTA elevated train stations, a Metra commuter rail station, a dozen key bus routes and the Howard Street CTA Regional Transportation Terminal.

Because Rogers Park is the last affordable community on the north lakefront, it has attracted real estate investors, retailers and homebuyers who have taken advantage of attractive prices to create a robust development community.  In the past several years, over a thousand apartments have been converted to condominiums.  These and new in-fill townhome developments have sold out quickly.  New business reflects the influx of new residents with more disposable income to spend on restaurants, entertainment and services.

The intensifying pace of the past years has created a strong incentive for entrepreneurs to open new stores and restaurants.  The City of Chicago, in coordination with DevCorp North, has made significant investments in the infrastructure of Rogers Park to enhance the business climate in the community.

Some examples include:

$3million streetscape project on Sheridan Road from Devon Avenue to Juneway terrace

$6.5 million Howard Streetscape Project between Ridge Avenue and Sheridan Road

$2 million investment in new sidewalks, gutters and trees on Clark Street from Devon Avenue to Howard Street

Multi-million dollar renovation of all four CTA stations in the community, plus the complete redesign of the Regional Transportation Terminal (bus and EL) at Howard Street and Paulina Avenue

Establishment of the Howard Street “Special Services Area” for comprehensive street and sidewalk cleaning, snow removal and marketing of the commercial district

New public library, elementary school, and fire station
4.5 million state of the art Community Center on Howard Street